There’s absolutely no way we could suggest constantly updating your system if we didn’t make you aware of the easiest way to do that: By enabling automatic updates for Windows 10.  

1. Go to the Start button, then Settings->Update & Security-> Windows Update
    
2. Choose “Check for Updates” if you want to check the updates manually. 
    
3. Next, select Advanced Options, and then under “Choose how updates are installed”, select Automatic (recommended). 
    
4. That’s literally it, you’re done. See how easy that was?? 

If you prefer alternative options, here is a more detailed breakdown of how to update your settings, complete with photos.

We’re absolutely not here to make comments on any geopolitical news – we’re really good at IT topics and really bad at parsing out nuanced foreign policy. All that said, ransomware has absolutely been dominating the news, so here is a look into some facts from the most reputable source on the topic: 

2021 Trends Show Increased Globalized Threat of Ransomware | CISA 

Key Takeaways: 

1. Cybersecurity authorities in the USA, Australia, and the UK have seen an increase in sophisticated, high-impact ransomware incidents against critical infrastructure organizations globally.
    
2. Phishing remains to be the most common way for cybercriminals to get a foothold into a device. The importance of knowing how to spot these phishing attacks is increasing exponentially – and we have you covered in a recent blog.
    
3. For even more information, check out our other infographic on the topic.

Should You Pay Ransomware Demands? | Forbes 

Key Takeaways: 

1. Law enforcement agencies routinely advise against paying ransoms, as it provides incentives and resources to cybercriminals. There's also no guarantee you'll even get your data back.
    
2. The reality for many organizations is they can't afford to be offline for an extended period so the answer isn't so black and white.
    
3. The best offense is a good defense: train your employees on cyber threats, monitor and update your firmware and software, maintain regular backups, and run incident response drills.
    
4. If you need help or have questions about what your business can do to start protecting itself, give us a call at (864) 552-1291

We can’t say it enough: Ransomware attacks are happening more and more every day – and every business that uses the internet is at risk.  

In 2021 there was a 105% increase in attacks year-over-year, and Sonicwall’s 2022 Cyber Threat Report noted a 755% increase in the healthcare industry and a 1,885% increase in attacks on governments worldwide.  

We put together a quick list of ways your business can easily fight back against the surge in ransomware attacks. We developed this acronym – Determent, Planning, Action, and Recover or DPAR – as a way that you can always remember the steps to fighting back against ransomware:

1. Determent – Working to prevent ransomware attacks on your business in the first place.
    
2. Planning – Understanding what your business specifically needs to do after a breach. 
    
3. Action – The all-hands moment immediately following a ransomware attack.
    
4. Recovery – Minimizing data losses to avoid major delays in productivity. 

To learn specifics on how your business can fight back against the rise in ransomware attacks read our recent blog Ransomware Attacks are Surging: How Your Business Can Fight Back! 

We used the word ransomware 15 times in this email because we truly believe it’s a topic that should be on every manager’s front burner. Go back and count if you don’t believe us, and then do us a favor and beef up your ransomware preparation.  

No matter how well we think we've been preparing, we can all still do a little more – from double- and triple-checking external connections to upping the frequency of data copies, there’s always something to improve to keep our teams safe.

Anyway, if you made it this far, we're guessing you see value in protecting yourself against digital intrusion and want to learn more about how to stay safe. Give us a call at (864) 552-1291 and we'll be happy to help you evaluate capabilities and options. Also, consider following us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter!